No. 5 Wildcats Topple No.10 Huskers In Record-Setting Match
Nov 15, 2003 | General
Manhattan - An all-time record crowd of 5,287 watched fifth-ranked Kansas State run its current winning streak to 13 matches with a 30-28, 29-31, 30-26, 30-25, win over 10th-ranked Nebraska Saturday night at Ahearn Field House. The win Saturday gave Kansas State a season sweep over the Huskers and a win over Nebraska in Manhattan for the first time ever.
The Wildcats, now 25-3 overall and 15-1 in Big 12 play, are only two wins away from their first ever Big 12 title heading into the final two weeks of the season. The 25-3 record is the best start in school history, surpassing the 1977 team that opened up 24-3-1. Nebraska, with the loss, dropped to 23-4 overall and 14-3 in league play.
“I thought we sided out very well against a big, tough and physical Nebraska team,” head coach Suzie Fritz said, who became the first K-State head coach to knock off the Huskers twice in a career. “Our senior class continues to amaze me. This team just will not give up and it all starts with the seniors and their leadership.”
Valeria Hejjas led a quartet of Wildcats to tally 10 or more kills with 15, while Cari Jensen collected 12, Lauren Goehring 11 and Lisa Martin 10. Four Cats also picked up 10 or more digs in the match as Laura Downey-Wallace collected 20, Gabby Guerre 16, Kris Jensen 14 and Cari Jensen 10, giving the Fowler, Colo., native her eighth double-double of the season.
Freshman Sandy Werner, making her first collegiate start Saturday, had a very productive match, tallying eight kills, seven digs and five blocks. Guerre picked up her 10th double-double of the season, adding 50 assists to her 16 digs.
The Wildcats opened up the match with a 30-28 win that saw numerous lead changes and ties throughout the game. A balanced offensive attack, with Cari Jensen, Valeria Hejjas and Lauren Goehring each tallying five kills, led K-State in game one. The Wildcats out-hit Nebraska, .381 to .213.
After Nebraska tied the match with a tight, 31-29 win in game two, K-State battled back to take game three, 30-26. Both teams picked up the defense as K-State hit .093 while Nebraska hit just .054. Goehring’s four blocks in the game paced the Wildcats.
In game four, Kansas State held the Huskers to just .020 hitting and four Wildcats had three or more kills as the Cats sealed the match with a 30-25 win. Lisa Martin and Sandy Werner each tallied three blocks in the final game.
The crowd of 5,287 watched as Kansas State improved to 12-0 at home this season. The record attendance surpassed the previous mark of 5,225, which was in 2000 against Nebraska.
“The crowd was absolutely amazing," Fritz said. "It was very emotional for all of us to go out for warmups and Ahearn already being filled with purple. We have the most loyal fans imaginable and we could not have won without them.”
Kansas State hits the road Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match at Oklahoma before hosting Texas Tech Saturday at 2 p.m.
#10 Nebraska (23-4, 14-3) 28 31 26 25
#5 Kansas State (25-3, 15-1) 30 29 30 30
KSU
